Ball-and-socket fastener.



c. w. SWENSON. BALL AND SOCKET FASTENER. APPLICATlON FILED APR- 25, I9I6.

' 3,19%? P atentedfiept, 12,1916.

, 2'5, J72 veni ow.

run STATES PATENT om CARL SWENSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ARNOLD C.

To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL W. Swanson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and ball and socket typeand has for its essential objects the prevention of accidental disengagement of the members. by. transverse or other strains; tofacilitate the induction and removal'of the ball relatively to the socket member; to afforda maximum of resiliency and strength to the socket member; and to attain these ends in a structure and by a process of manufacture which is simple and inexpensive.

. To .the above ends essentially my invenultimately form the socket member, Figs.

3 and 4, similar views of the same after the first bending operation, Figs. 5 and 6, like views of the same after the piercing operationfFigs. 7 and 8, similar views after the depression of the points, Figs. 9 and 10, like views after the points have been rolled in,

Fig. 11, a side elevation of the ball member, 'Fig, 12, a plan'view on reduced scale,.of the socket member attached to a fabric, Fig. 13,

an enlarged section of the socket on line 1313 of 7' showing in side .elevation the ball member during its entrance into the socket, and Fig. 14, a like section and elevation of the same "showing the ball member completely seated in the socket.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

In constructing my novel fastener by my .novel process a circular flat blank or plan chet A as shown in Figs-1 and 2, is cut from a strip of thin metal. By a suitable die the' center of this is depressed forming when reversed a'rim B and dome shaped elevation C, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The described blank isiaext inserted. between bending nd Specification of Letters Patent.

tion.

MESSLER, OF PAWTUCKE'I, RHODE ISLAND.

BALL-AND-SOCKET FASTENER.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed April 26, 1916. Serial No. 93,781.

piercing'dies whereby an annular bend or depression b is imparted to the inner portion of the flange B, and radially disposed cuts a are made in the dome portion extending from the center thereof into the depression I). At the latter points the ,cuts are enlarged sufliciently to form eyes 03. These cuts or pierclngs, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, divide the portion G into segments comprising vertical body portions, and converging. pointed portions E substantially horizontal in disposi- By suitable dies the portions E are bent 1n a. substantially vertical position, as

shown in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein the portions 0 have a transversely rounded bend, as at f. The points E are next rolled by suitable dies into the form shown in Figs. 9,10, 13. and 14 so that their extremities g are upwardly direct-' ed and spaced somewhat from the curved portlon c.of the wall C, which portion originally formed the part of C which carried the points E.

The ball member 11- comprises the plate 2', the ball or head j, and the neck is, all ofany preferred usual construction. The ball is adapted tobe attached by its base 2' to a fabric in any manner. The socket member A may also be attached in the usual manner.

In the present instance it is shown attached to a fabric L by thread Z passing through the openings d.

The complete socket member, therefore, comprises a base plate or flange B having an annular depression I) from which extend the outwardly directed walls 0 of the resilient members C, having rounded crests or shoulders f which merge 1n curved inwardly directed walls E, whose pointed extremities g are outwardly bent from points 9 near their ends.- These extremities are nori'nally 13, compresses the wall E until such 'compression is limited by the contact of .the point extremities gagainst the walls 0, and even then increased resiliency is afiorded by an inward movement of the extremities by compression against said walls. Meanwhile a further yielding or 'resilient property is afforded by an outward movement of, the .-wall c-which is facilitated by the bend b at the bases of the segments or tongues C.

After thehead j in its insertion, passes by. the members C, the constituent parts thereof-expandand assume a position such as showninFig. 14:, thus firmlydocking-the head, but not excessively," since the rounded lower portions of the walls E facilitate disengagement. "Insertion is assisted by the rounded. upper portions of the walls E,

By the. described construction a maximum,

of resiliency is. afforded the socket so asto efiiciently engage ball members ofdifferent -'sizes, and yet insure easy insertion and re- 'moval.

It will be observed that the points 9 are slightly spaced from the wall portions 2;. It willbe understood also t-hat'an operative structure of great advantage is attained when the points g are originally in' contact withthe walls-.0. 4 l X I claim:,

l.- In a fastener of the type set forth, the" combinationof a base and annularly arranged segments mounted on the base comprising inwardly directed scroll I shaped bearing members adapted to yieldingly gengage a ball member and having free ter ininals 'engageable with the adjacent curved .walls of the saidabearing members. a -2.'In a fastenerof the type set forth, the

combination of a base, and' annularly arrangedsegments'yieldingly mounted on the base comprising yielding bearing. members adapted to engage a ball member, and ex-.

tended .terminals upon the ends of the bearingmembers normally out of contact with the adjacent curved Walls of said members the ends of the bearing members normally out of contact with the adjacent curved walls of said members and engage'able therewith when compressed.

- 4. In a fastener of the typeset forth, the

combination of a base, and annularly ar-, ranged segments on the base comprising outwardly directed walls, curved inwardly Q directed bearing members, and outwardly I directed terminals upon the bearing members located between said members and said walls normally out of contact with the adjace'nt curved walls .of said nemberS and engageable therewith when compressed.

5. In a fastener of the typeset forth, the

combination of a base, annularly arranged segments on the base comprising outwardly directed ,walls provided with transverse bends in their bottom portions, curved inwardly directed bearing members integral with the ends of said members,terminating adjacent the walls normally out of contact with but compressible against the adJacent curved portions of said members to increase the tension of the'latter.

with the upper portions of the walls and provided with inwardly directed bends in their lower portions, and points integral 70 In testimony whereof I have affixed my a signature.- I

CARL w." swENsoN. 

